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Let’s Stop Acting Like We Can’t Do Anything About Gun Violence
Just yesterday, we witnessed the deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook tragedy, claiming 14 lives when a couple unleashed gunfire at a center for individuals with developmental disabilities. Over the past week alone, there have been six mass shootings, each defined as an incident involving four or more victims. According to ShootingTracker.com, there have been a staggering 355 mass shootings in 2015 — more than the number of days this year.
Let that sink in for a moment.
The situation is worsening with each report. A few months back, we had to face the chilling headline: Toddlers have been involved in 43 shootings this year. How much longer can this continue?
We all agree on one thing: this has to end. But how? There are concrete steps we can take to reduce gun violence, based on real research that can lead to effective legislation.
For the past two decades, a ban on gun violence research in the U.S. has been enforced, largely due to the NRA’s influence. This ban, stemming from The Dickey Amendment, prevents the CDC from researching gun violence, claiming it could be seen as advocating for gun control. Reflecting on this, former Congressman Jay Dickey recently expressed regret, stating, “I wish we had started the proper research and kept it going all this time.”
Congress members and doctors across the nation have called for an end to this ban, emphasizing that gun violence poses one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. Rep. Lisa Grant, vice chair of the House of Representatives’ Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, said it best: “This issue deserves to be addressed with objective data and solid scientific research.”
The ongoing ban has stifled researchers and left lawmakers with little information to work with. It’s astonishing to think we’ve gone two decades without comprehensive studies on the root causes of gun violence and how to prevent it. Dr. Sarah Patel, a pediatrician from Philadelphia, shared her disappointment: “In my career, I’ve seen lives saved from diseases like measles and SIDS due to federal research. It’s disheartening that the CDC can’t do the same for gun violence.”
Despite arguments that “a gun is not a disease,” numerous other non-disease topics have been studied by the CDC for years. The Doctors for America event happened just hours before news broke of the San Bernardino shooting.
The reality is, we can do something about gun violence. We just aren’t doing it.
More guns lead to more deaths, and the statistics support this year after year. Gun sales are soaring, with the FBI processing a record 185,345 background checks on Black Friday alone. The previous record was set shortly after the Sandy Hook shooting, illustrating a troubling trend: mass shootings appear to boost gun sales.
The NRA may not openly admit this, but they recognize the pattern. After Sandy Hook, their President, Tom Harper, stated, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” So, let’s continue pushing for more guns in the hands of “good guys,” while avoiding laws that could help regulate gun sales and banning research aimed at understanding this escalating crisis. Clearly, that strategy is not working.
It’s time for us to take action. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against gun violence. For more information on how you can help, check out this informative resource on home insemination and related topics at this link. You may also want to explore this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination, and learn about a great option for home insemination kits at Cryobaby.
In summary, while it’s easy to feel helpless against the tide of gun violence, there are actionable steps we can take. By supporting research and sensible legislation, we can work towards a safer future.